In November, Zoran Planinic got ripped by Byron Scott, dropped from the Nets’ rotation and turned into an afterthought. In December, he was banished to the injured list, even though the only thing hurting was his pride. Looking back, he says he could tell Scott had little use for him.

But just a month later, the rookie point guard is more confident in himself and more comfortable with his teammates. Interim coach Lawrence Frank has lifted the burden of play-calling and shown a commitment to him – a commitment Planinic doesn’t think Scott had.

“A month ago I was on the injured list; I was miserable,” said Planinic. “Now I’m really happy because I can contribute to the team. So it’s like, I’m so happy, the guys can do something for me.”

Planinic played 18 encouraging minutes in Friday’s 120-99 win over Orlando, with nine points and a career-high seven assists. He had just 20 assists the entire season before that.

“He gave the team a spark,” Jason Kidd said Friday, before missing yesterday’s practice for personal reasons. “He’s done a great job since coach Frank has taken over. He’s going to make mistakes, but he’s going to go out prepared, because he knows his teammates believe in him.”

But did Scott? After 22 lethargic minutes in an 81-80 loss to Toronto, Scott was critical of Planinic’s lack of energy. He played just two minutes the next game vs. Seattle, then went on the IL.

“I understand Byron, because this is a team that needs to win every game,” Planinic said. “To me, [since] I came here because I don’t know language well, I know he just didn’t want to bother with me. He’d be like, bring an American point guard.

“This team didn’t have patience for me. I figured it was that way. So I’m like, this year I’m going to practice, learn the language, learn the offense, be prepared. I don’t read the papers, so I don’t know what he exactly said, but how he acted, I assumed that.”

Frank said the 21-year-old Croat has a better grasp of the offense, and has worked hard to build up his 6-7, 195-lb. frame; but his biggest hurdle was calling out plays in English, which led to comedic episodes at best, woefully dysfunctional offense at worst.

“That was the worst part. I couldn’t handle that,” Planinic said. “In the game we want to speed it up, push it up, and every time it was like my tongue was splitting. Kenyon Martin was like, ‘What did you say?’ and I didn’t even know what I said. It was funny.”

In the half-dozen games since Scott’s firing, Frank has been calling plays, something that has made a world of difference for the rookie.

“It’s much easier,” Planinic said. “Before, when I grabbed the ball I was thinking ‘What was the name of that play, what was the name of that play?’ I was always looking back. Now it’s easier. I just go in there fluid.”

Frank chalks it up to Planinic’s development.

“At the time, maybe he just wasn’t quite ready,” Frank said. “Now, he’s being given an opportunity, he’s learning and he’s getting better. And really we haven’t put him in situations where he can really thrive.

“[Calling plays] is the coach’s job. No. 1, he’s a rookie. No. 2, being from another country, it wouldn’t be fair putting him in that position. I just want him to play and not have to think about what the play call is. That’s the job of the coach.”

Center Jason Collins has a sprained left big toe, and will be a gametime decision tonight vs. the 76ers.

Six of one . . .

Interim head coach Lawrence Frank has guided the Nets to six straight wins since taking over for Byron Scott on Jan. 27. Here’s how Scott’s final six games stack up against Frank’s first six: